THE 



QUARTERLY JOURNAL 



OF 



THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF 



THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



On the Meaning of the term " Silurian System " as adopted by 

 Geologists in various countries during the last ten years. By Sir 

 Roderick Impey Murchison, F.R.S., G.S., Member of the 

 Academies of St. Petersburg, Berlin, and Copenhagen ; and Corr. 

 M. Inst. France. 



[Read June 16, 1852.] 



Introduction. — As in the last memoir printed in the preceding 

 number of this Journal* my old friend Professor Sedgwick has 

 animadverted upon some of my proceedings in establishing the Silu- 

 rian System and in afterwards extending its application to British 

 tracts beyond those in which it was originally formed, — I now offer, 

 with the permission of the Council, a reply, which shall be very brief, 

 and which, in vindicating my scientific credit, will be little more than 

 a reference to documents published in successive years on this subject. 

 Being perfectly sure that, whatever may have been the strength and 

 pungency of his expressions. Professor Sedgwick had no intention to 

 hurt my feelings, I am also certain, that he will be pleased that I thus 

 have an opportunity of explaining what I consider to be the history 

 of the origin and final establishment of my own Silurian classification. 



* Vide supra, pp. 136 et seq. 

 VOL. VIII. PART I. N 



